'''Squirtle''' ([[List of Japanese Pokémon names|Japanese]]: '''ゼニガメ''' ''Zenigame'') is a {{type|Water}} Pokémon.

'''Squirtle''' ([[List of Japanese Pokémon names|Japanese]]: '''ゼニガメ''' ''Zenigame'') is a {{type|Water}} Pokémon.

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It [[Evolution|evolves]] into {{p|Wartortle}} starting at [[level]] 16, of whom evolves into {{p|Blastoise}} starting at [[level]] 36.

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It [[Evolution|evolves]] into {{p|Wartortle}} starting at [[level]] 16, which evolves into {{p|Blastoise}} starting at [[level]] 36.

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Along with {{p|Bulbasaur}} and {{p|Charmander}}, Squirtle is one of three [[starter Pokémon]] of [[Kanto]] available at the beginning of [[Pokémon Red and Green Versions|Pokémon Red, Green]], [[Pokémon Red and Blue Versions|Blue]], [[Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|FireRed, and LeafGreen]]. In [[Pokemon X and Y]], you can receive him or one of the other two starters, along with the Kalos starters.

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Along with {{p|Bulbasaur}} and {{p|Charmander}}, Squirtle is one of three [[starter Pokémon]] of [[Kanto]] available at the beginning of [[Pokémon Red and Green Versions|Pokémon Red, Green]], [[Pokémon Red and Blue Versions|Blue]], [[Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|FireRed, and LeafGreen]].

Biology

In its shell

Squirtle is a small Pokémon that resembles a light blue turtle. While it typically walks on its two short legs, it has been shown to run on all fours in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It has large brown eyes and a slightly hooked upper lip. Each of its hands and feet has three pointed digits. The end of its long tail curls inward. Its body is encased by a tough shell that forms and hardens after birth. This shell is brown on the top, pale yellow on the bottom, and has a thick white ridge between the two halves.

Squirtle's shell is a useful tool. It can withdraw into the shell for protection, and its grooved, rounded shape helps to reduce water resistance when this Pokémon swims. Squirtle can spray foamy water from its mouth with great accuracy. Squirtle is scarce in the wild, although it can be found around small ponds and lakes.The anime has shown that it can be found living on secluded islands with other members of its evolutionary line.

Squirtle was mentioned in the first episode of the anime, Pokémon - I Choose You!, as one of the three starter Pokémon new Trainers in Pallet Town can choose from. Ash dreamed of owning one, and it was his first choice for his starter Pokémon. However, when he arrived at Oak's lab, he found out it was too late, as another Trainer who started the same day had already taken it. It was shown battling and defeating Samurai's Metapod.

Other

In Journey to the Starting Line, a set of the three Kanto starter Pokémon in which a boy named Gilbert was supposed to choose from as his starting Pokémon were scared off by Ash's Tauros. Professor Oak, Tracey, Delia, and Gilbert had to split up and find the three missing Pokémon. Squirtle was the second one found. The Tiny Turtle Pokémon was stuck in a tree that was hanging over a cliff. Ash's Bulbasaur managed to catch the Squirtle before it could fall off the cliff.

In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Ash's Squirtle has been featured in the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu. It first appears in the chapter You Gotta Have Friends. Squirtle's capture is not shown in the manga, it is simply stated when it appears from its Poké Ball that "Ash has been busy since the last comic".

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Green stole a Squirtle from Professor Oak, which she nicknamed Blasty. It has since evolved into Wartortle and then Blastoise more quickly than the others, possibly due to her innate talent in evolving Pokémon, as acknowledged by the Masked Man.

Green's Blastoise is never shown in its Squirtle form in the manga (save the contents page of the third volume and a picture Professor Oak had of Blue stealing it from his lab). Its first appearance, as a Wartortle, is in Wartortle Wars, returning as a Blastoise in Zap, Zap, Zapdos.

In the TCG

Other appearances

Squirtle is seen on the stage Pokéfloats and is the first Pokéfloat to appear. Play begins on its head and arms until it slowly leaves off the bottom of the screen. After traveling through all the Pokéfloats, the screen will be empty for a few seconds before Squirtle pops up and the cycle begins again.

Trophy information

Retreating into its shell and spitting water at its foes is Squirtle's trademark response to danger. It's one of the three Pokémon that Trainers can receive from Professor Oak in Pokémon Red and Blue. Squirtle evolves into Wartortle and then Blastoise, ramping up its water powers with each evolution.

Squirtle is a playable Pokémon used by the Pokémon Trainer. It can use Waterfall to recover from falls as well as Withdraw, in which case it retreats to its shell and shoots water from the back of it propelling him forwards. It also uses Water Gun to push enemies with a stream of water. Squirtle is a lightweight and uses various attacks using its shell and Water-type moves to combat its foes. It uses Hydro Pump in Red's Final Smash, Triple Finish.

Trophy Information

"A Tiny Turtle Pokémon. In times of danger, it pulls its arms and legs inside its shell to protect from enemy attacks. When it conceals its neck, it also shoots a powerful stream of water from its mouth. Its shell not only protects its body, but also reduces water friction when in the water. When leveled up, it evolves into Wartortle."

Other sprites

Trivia

Niue released a one-dollar coin featuring Squirtle as part of a commemorative promotion for the Pokémon franchise, with Squirtle on one side and the nation's coat of arms on the other.

As a species, Squirtle has been trained most frequently of all the Kantostarter Pokémon by major anime Trainers, with Ash, May, and Gary each owning one.

In version 1.0 of FireRed and LeafGreen Squirtle is listed as the "Tiny Pokémon" in its Pokédex entry. This could be due to a programming oversight or a glitch, as this is fixed in later versions of the game.

Origin

Name origin

Squirtle is a combination of squirt (to spray or little, tiny) and turtle, for its turtle-like appearance.

Zenigame is the Japanese word 銭亀 (pond turtle). According to Pokémon Black and White's television program PokéQuiz, "'Zeni' is an old-fashioned word for money. Squirtle's shells look like old coins, so that's how they got their name!"